Monday, August 4, 2014

Monday - August 4th, 2014

Man oh man!

I
only have 1 week left in the states! I can't believe it! Everyone who
has guessed my emotions in letters or emails is just about right;
excited, nervous eager, hesitant, anxious, and scared for the unknown!

But
until next Tuesday comes, I will continue to enjoy my week here in this
mission! I am really excited to see the many last miracles of my
mission here. I know there will be many, because I will be giving it all
I have got!

I
had a wonderful experience at the temple on Friday. I am so grateful to
have that great blessing to go down to Boston to partake of the
blessing in the temple. It was incredible to be reminded, again, of the
great promises I have been given that are associated with the covenants I
made in God's house! I will include what I mentioned to my Mission
president about my experience and the action I am now taking on my
answers I got there at the temple and shortly after my time in the
temple:

I
can't explain how wonderful it was to go to the temple! I was able to
write down all of the wonderful inspiration I received there afterwards,
and it was exactly what I needed! I am so thankful I could go!

I
have been doing your challenge about praying about what to change, and
have even shared it with my family and a few others. And I truly have a
testimony of it and that it works! Since the first 3 weeks I did it
though, I have sort of slaked off, but this past week I studied and
prayed to know how to truly manage and change some of my desires and
personality. I asked this question to the Lord while in the temple and I
received what I thought was my full answer, but I found that He wasn't
done. I came across another challenge by another Mission President that
was very similar to yours. It was to make
a list of things that "poke" at my spirit and make a covenant to start a
40 day fast from all those things. They could include things that would
help me qualify for the spirit as well. So it started with a regular
fast yesterday to help me change my desires and make all the changes I
wrote down on my list. And I am on day 2 of 40 days. I know if I stick
with this, and lean on my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, I
will be able to change by the power His Atonement.

I
am going to work really hard at this, and besides I will need something
to keep me consistent with all these changes coming up! I know it is
what the Lord needs me to do and I am so grateful for the temple where I
can pray and plead with the Lord and he can answer me so clearly and
personally!

We
are still meeting with Ann regularly. I believe I mentioned how, she
has been really humbled by her family struggles and that is why she is
so sensitive to these spiritual truths we are teaching her. Well we got a
call Friday night at like 9:45 from her saying he daughter had called
her earlier that evening and wanted to come over and talk with her! That
was a huge step! Her daughter hasn't wanted to sit down and talk with
her much at all since the divorce. So she enjoyed it very much and knew
that Heavenly Father was answering our prayers. She said, "Every time
you come by, you pray for me and my family and I know thats why my
daughter came over!" Things aren't perfect for them yet, but she is
getting to see her grandkids again, and so its better! She came to
church yesterday and enjoyed it again! The ward loves her a lot and we
will be seeing her 3 times a week, and the call every morning helps her!
She is such a
sweet lady, and I sure will miss her, but definitely will write her.
She will be such a wonderful addition the church and the Sanford Ward.
It was so cool to see her participate in Gospel Principles so much! We
were in Chapter 42 about the gathering of Isreal and She was able to
answer questions, and give insight into our discussion because of her
upbringing as an Orthodox Jew. It was great!

Well thats about all I have time for today, but thats the main things that have happened since Thursday!